They are the best business minds in Arizona. They are innovators, trailblazers and leaders of men.

They are Az Business magazine’s Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2014, as selected by the editorial team at Az Business magazine and a panel of industry experts. The Most Influential Women were honored Thursday at a reception at The Venue in Scottsdale.

“While their resumes and career paths may differ, the women we selected have all procured influence in their respective fields through hard-earned track records of profitability, business ethics and leadership,” said AZ Big Media Publisher Cheryl Green. “Az Business magazine is proud to congratulate the women who earned the right to call themselves one of the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business. They are changing the face of Arizona business.”

In addition to the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business, Az Business also selects five “Generation Next” women who are making an impact on Arizona, even though they are less than 40 years old. Those women selected for 2014 are:

To select the best and brightest women to recognize each year, the editor and publisher of Az Business magazine compile a list of almost 1,000 women from every facet of Arizona’s business landscape — banking, law, healthcare, bioscience, real estate, technology, manufacturing, retail, tourism, energy, accounting and nonprofits. Once that list is compiled, we vet the list, narrow it down to about 150 women who we feel are most deserving, and then submit the list to 20 of their peers — female leaders from a variety or industries — and ask them to vote. If they want to vote for someone whose name is not on the list of those submitted for consideration, voters are invited to write in the names of women who they think deserve to members of this exclusive club.

Az Business also does not allow a woman to appear on the list most than once.

The Venue Scottsdale, the premiere special events venue in Old Town Scottsdale, is launching Boogie Nights – a recurring party that will merge 70s and 80s dance music spinning from DJ Pauly. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in their best attire from that era and dance the nights away to a state of the art sound system, lighting and more. EVA 95.5 FM, “the Valley’s old school station” has partnered with The Venue to create a party filled with your favorite groovy dance music.

The event will run from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and reoccur every 6 weeks beginning April 20. There will be a $15 cover for each night which will include costume contests, drink specials and a really funky time. Tickets can be purchased at www.boogienightsscottsdale.eventbrite.com/ or at the door.

The Venue Scottsdale is located at 7117 E. 3rd Avenue in Old Town, Scottsdale.

“This is our opportunity to bring back some of the great events The Venue has a history of hosting,” says Director of Marketing David Twigger. “We’ve had the idea to host a themed dance party and Boogie Nights will allow guests the chance to let loose, dance to their favorite tunes and dress up in their outrageous retro threads costumes if they choose.”

The Venue Scottsdale has reinvested in the 29,000 square foot event space to upgrade the facility to a sleek upscale look. The roughly $1 million remodel includes Israeli limestone work throughout the venue, granite countertops, a re-inspired entry way, new doors and flooring, a new HVAC system, grass roof covering, an upgraded audio visual system and more.

The Venue Scottsdale has also announced plans to open a new concept, V&V. The two story lounge will be complete with a beautiful spiral staircase leading to a third floor roof top experience. V&V is slated to open to the public in fall 2013.

K.I.S.S. A Back East Pizza and Beef Joint, the Valley’s newest Chicago-style fast-casual restaurant, is now open! The new concept, presented by The Venue Scottsdale, is a sleek pizza eatery hailing its convenience and classic big city food. K.I.S.S., which stands for “keep it simple stupid” is properly titled for its straightforward ingredients, will be located in a newly built space next to The Venue Scottsdale and the soon-to-be two-story lounge, V&V. K.I.S.S. is located at 7117 E. 3rd Avenue.

K.I.S.S. will feature Chicago and New York styles of pizza offered whole or by the slice along with Italian beef, Italian sausage and grinder sandwiches, Chicago dogs and antipasto salads. The full menu can be seen at www.kisspizzajoint.com. The 900 square foot eatery is complete with just nine bar seats at granite countertops and an interior replicated with the look of a typical back east sandwich shop.

K.I.S.S. is dedicated to bringing the unique taste of Chicago-style pizza to patrons, using a process to create the same composition of water used in Chicago pizzerias. The unique water-filtration system also plays a role in the flavor of the hot dog and Italian sausage as both are immersed while cooking.

“We are extremely excited about K.I.S.S. and the opportunity it brings to not only The Venue Scottsdale, but also to the Old Town area,” says David Twigger, Director of Sales and Marketing for The Venue Scottsdale and K.I.S.S. “The eatery will serve the local community, offering simple food with a flare to dine-in or to-go.”

The menu, created by Chef Anthony Crocenzi, pays homage to the traditional Italian beef found around Chicago’s famous sandwich shops. Born and raised in Chicago with over 10 years of full-immersion into the downtown culinary scene, Crocenzi’s goal is to replicate the unique flavors of Chicago where he grew up.